June 29, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 24, 1429

SIALKOT, June 28: Imported medical equipment worth Rs60 million is getting rust, as it has not yet been installed at the newly established trauma centre because of a lack of space there.

The trauma centre has not been made completely operational even after five years of its establishment because of unavailability of doctors and paramedical staff.

In August 2006, the provincial government approved the district government’s summary to fill the vacant posts of general surgeon, radiologist, deputy medical superintendent, four chief medical officers, six medical officers and 15 nurses and also allocated Rs11.12 million for the salaries of persons to be appointed against these posts.

However, the district government, which is now running emergency ward of the district headquarters hospital in trauma centre’s building, has failed to fill these vacant posts so far.

The district government had begun the trauma centre project at the Government Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital in 2003 with a total cost of Rs55 million. Later, it imported medical equipment, including angiography, X-ray and CT&RTI Scan machines worth Rs60 million.

The incumbent district government took the project in its hands and constructed a building for the trauma centre “in a hurry”. The building has not been planned in accordance with the needs of the centre and as a result the imported medical equipment cannot be installed here.

Sialkot District Health Officer Dr Shakeel Butt said the trauma centre should be made operational at the earliest to benefit the people and make use of the Rs60 million imported equipment.

However, district government officials avoided comment on the issue.